The ISD High School Diploma
The International School of Düsseldorf is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) as well as the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC). These accreditations enable ISD to offer a globally-recognized 4-year U.S. High School Diploma, which grants ISD graduates direct access to higher education programs in Canada and the United States, as well as other key destinations for ISD students, such as the Netherlands (Applied Science Universities) and Japan. In some cases, institutions prefer/require an ACT or SAT score, or individual DP Courses/Certificates in combination with the ISD High School Diploma.
All ISD students enrolled in grades 9-12 are automatically following the ISD High School Diploma graduation pathway. To earn the ISD High School Diploma, a student must:
In grades 11 and 12, ISD students may also choose the additional challenge of completing International Baccalaureate Certificates/Courses (similar to U.S. APs and UK A-Levels) or the full International Baccalaureate Diploma.
For more information on the ISD High School Diploma and access to further/higher education, please visit our Grade 11 & 12 Academic Programme & Course Choices page, our ISD Senior School Profile page, and our ISD Graduate Destinations page.
All ISD students enrolled in grades 9-12 are automatically following the ISD High School Diploma graduation pathway. To earn the ISD High School Diploma, a student must:
- Complete four years of education in grades 9-12 at ISD, or, for students transferring into ISD, complete four years together with another recognized high school.
- Successfully complete grades 9 and 10. At ISD, this means the completion of Years 4 and 5 of the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), with no more than two final grades below '3' (out of '7') in either year.
- Earn a minimum total of 40 points in grades 11 and 12, with no more than four final grades below '3' (out of '7').
- Take at least one year of mainstream English.
- Take three consecutive years of the same foreign language.
- Successfully meet the requirements for the IB MYP Service as Action Programme (grade 9-10) and/or IB Diploma Creativity | Activity | Service Programme (grade 11-12).
In grades 11 and 12, ISD students may also choose the additional challenge of completing International Baccalaureate Certificates/Courses (similar to U.S. APs and UK A-Levels) or the full International Baccalaureate Diploma.
For more information on the ISD High School Diploma and access to further/higher education, please visit our Grade 11 & 12 Academic Programme & Course Choices page, our ISD Senior School Profile page, and our ISD Graduate Destinations page.
The ISD High School Diploma - Recognition in Germany
The German Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK) has set additional requirements for the recognition of a U.S. High School Diploma in Germany.
This includes:
*In the ISD context, a grade of 'C' is equivalent to a score of '3'.
**In the ISD context, a 3.00 GPA can be achieved with an average score of '4'.
Please refer to p. 3 of the ISD Senior School Profile for more information about ISD's suggested U.S. equivalency scale.
Note that high schools around the world interpret high school achievement grades and GPA calculation differently. Organizations such as the German KMK, national Ministries of Education, and colleges and universities may not ascribe to ISD's suggested equivalency scale.
This includes:
- English - 4 units/years with a minimum grade of *'C'.
- 2nd Language - 2 units/years
- Social Studies - 3 units/years
- Mathematics - 2 or 3 units/years. Must include Algebra II or Trigonometry (11th grade) and Precalculus (12th grade) and a minimum grade of *'C'.
- Science 2 or 3 units/years of Biology, Chemistry or Physics with a minimum grade of *'C'.
- A total of 5 units/years in Mathematics and Science.
- Electives - 2 years
- An unweighted cumulative grade point average (GPA) of **3.00/4.00.
*In the ISD context, a grade of 'C' is equivalent to a score of '3'.
**In the ISD context, a 3.00 GPA can be achieved with an average score of '4'.
Please refer to p. 3 of the ISD Senior School Profile for more information about ISD's suggested U.S. equivalency scale.
Note that high schools around the world interpret high school achievement grades and GPA calculation differently. Organizations such as the German KMK, national Ministries of Education, and colleges and universities may not ascribe to ISD's suggested equivalency scale.